Canadian and European doctors have concluded that increased weight significantly weakens human memory and cognitive function, regardless of the impact of obesity on blood sugar levels and brain vascular function. The results of the scientists' study on this matter were published in the journal JAMA Open Network. Professor Anand, one of the study's authors from McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, stated, "Our studies showed that being overweight is associated with decreased mental sharpness and memory, without considering how it affects brain vascular function and metabolism. In particular, the heaviest volunteers performed on intelligence tests as if they were approximately three years older than their thinner peers."
Recent studies indicate that obesity greatly increases the risk of developing age-related dementia and other types of cognitive and memory decline. Neuroscientists traditionally attribute this to the fact that excess weight contributes to dysfunction in the brain's circulatory system, and also leads to diabetes and other metabolic disorders. The Canadian researchers regularly tested the intelligence of volunteers, monitored brain tissue and blood vessels using MRI, and assessed body fat percentage among the patients. They also utilized this information to evaluate how obesity and weight gain affected cognitive function and memory, as well as the likelihood of various other issues.
Their analysis revealed that overweight itself negatively impacts the memory and cognitive function of Canadians, regardless of whether they suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, or other chronic diseases related to obesity. An increase in body fat percentage by 9% led to a reduction in volunteers' mental sharpness scores as if they had aged an additional year. According to Professor Anand and his colleagues, these findings suggest that combating obesity may not only reduce the incidence of diabetes and high blood pressure but may also potentially protect a significant number of individuals from early declines in their cognitive abilities.
